California Senate OKs Iraq resolution

SACRAMENTO — Amid accusations that it would give comfort to America's enemies, the California Senate approved a resolution Tuesday calling for a halt to boosting the number of troops in Iraq or spending any more taxpayer dollars on the war without explicit approval from Congress.

The resolution was introduced by state Sen. Carole Midgen (D-San Francisco). She said she would amend the resolution, approved 22 to 14, before it reached the state Assembly to include a stronger message of support for the troops. Democrats nevertheless said the Iraq war had been a failure and no longer appeared to be a "just cause."

Republicans stood to oppose the resolution, which expresses the opinion of the Legislature but is legally meaningless.

One said the Democratic Party should be ashamed of supporting terrorists, who could soon be attacking California cities.

"This resolution emboldens our enemies," said Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta). "This resolution simply tells Al Qaeda and other state sponsors of terrorism, 'We've got the Americans on the run. First, we had the election in November and now ... all we have to do is hold out a while longer. They are crumbling in Washington and they are crumbling in state legislatures all over the country.' "

"I am 56 years old and in all my years I have yet to experience a situation like this, where a legislative body has taken it upon itself to pass resolutions to support and enhance the morale of our enemies," said Sen. Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto).

Sen. Sheila Kuehl, a Santa Monica Democrat, responded: "Balderdash. If anything is supporting and emboldening our enemies, it is this war.... This war was a mistake, and the rest of the world knows it."